Runner checker apparatus for warp knitting machines

ABSTRACT

A runner checker apparatus for use with a knitting machine which has a plurality of warp beam sections and a main drive shaft, the runner checker apparatus including a device monitoring the main drive shaft rotation to produce course counting pulses at a selected pulse rate, a device for marking the yarn being fed from the beam sections with a detectable mark, start and stop detectors for each yarn for detecting when the mark passes selected start and stop measuring stations, and electronic circuitry for producing a counter display providing a readout which indicates the number of courses per preselected runner length based upon detection of the passage of the mark through the start and stop detecting stations.

United States Patent 1 Nickell et a1.

[ July 24, 1973 RUNNER CHECKER APPARATUS FOR WARP KNITTING MACHINES Inventors: Lawrence Creigh Nickell; Raymond Baines Fertig, both of Ronceverte;

Ernest Eggleston, Alderson; Samuel Eugene Mitchell, Lewisburgh, all of W. Va.

Appalachian Electronic Instruments, Inc., Ronceverte, W. Va.

Filed: Apr. 19, 1972 Appl. No.: 245,500

Assignee:

US. Cl 66/86 A, 139/35, 139/97 Int. Cl. D041) 23/00, D04b 27/00 Field of Search 66/86, 86 A; 139/35,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1971 Fertig et a1. 66/86 12/1971 Fertig et a1. 66/86 6/1972 Murenbeeld..... 66/86 A 1/1958 Hadfield et al. 66/86 A 2,818,713 1/1958 Porter 66/125 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1,134,818 11/1968 Great Britain 66/86 A Primary Examiner-Ronald Feldbaum AttorneyThomas B. Van Poole et a1.

[57] ABSTRACT A runner checker apparatus for use with a knitting machine which has a plurality of warp beam sections and a main drive shaft, the runner checker apparatus including a device monitoring the main drive shaft rotation to produce course counting pulses at a selected pulse rate, a device for marking the yarn being fed from the beam sections with a detectable mark, start and stop detectors for each yarn for detecting when the mark passes selected start and stop measuring stations,

and electronic circuitry for producing a counter display providing a readout which indicates the number of courses per preselected runner length based upon detection of the passage of the mark through the start and stop detecting stations.

21' Claims, 5 Drawing Figures United States Patent 1 [111 3,747,372

RUNNER CHECKER APPARATUS FOR WARP KNITTING MACHINES BACKGROUND AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates in general to runner checker means for measuring and indicating the length of runners, or yarn length, feeding from each warp beam section of a warp knitting machine to the needle bar, and more particularly to a runner checker that provides a courses per pre-selected runner checker length readout and an RPM readout.

Textile mills using high speed warp knitting machines have recognized the need for improved means of knowing the length of runners, or yarn length, feeding from each warp beam section to the needle bar in warp knit ting machines. A warp beam section can be defined as a row of cylindrical metal spools on which warp yarns are wound. The warp yarns are drawn from the beams to guide bars, and then to needle bars where the fabric is knitted. The knitted fabric, which is typically 168 inches inwidth, then feeds from the needle bar to the take-up roll or rolls where the knitted fabric is accumulated in roll form.

Warp knitting machines usually have two to four warp beam sections. The yarn from each warp beam section has a tension let-off control that governs the tension or feed rate of warp yarn passing over the guide bar to the needle bar. The mill operating personnel need to check the warp yarn feed rate from each warp beam section at least once every eight hour shift to be certain proper tension is maintained. The feed rate of yarn from each warp beam section is adjusted at the beginning of each production run to a pre-determined value. Adjusting yarn feed rates and choosing a pattern wheel gear ratio providing 12, 16 or 24 courses-perrevolution generally covers the range required forvarious knitted fabric styles. Assuming a warp knitting machine main drive shaft is rotating at 1,200 revolutions per minute, there will be 1,200 courses-per-minute, a course being defined as a row of loops or stitches running across the total width of knitted fabric. Using the 12 courses-per-revolution gears, the pattern wheel will roatate at 100 revolutions per minute. The 16 coursesper-revolution gears provide a pattern wheel revolution of 75 revolutions per minute, and the 24 courses perrevolution gears provide 50 revolutions per minute of the pattern wheel, assuming a main drive shaft speed of 1,200 revolutions per minute. A rack of knitted cloth is defined as the length of cloth produced when a knitting machine knits 480 courses. Originally, the general textile industry standard was to determine length of yarn in inches required to produce one rack of knitted cloth.

One common method that is used to measure the length of yarn reeling off of the yarn beam is to use a portable runner checker instrument. This portable runner checker comprises two rubber tired metal wheels that drive a mechanical counter, the assembly being attached to the end of a long handle. This device provides a readout in inches to the nearest inch for 20, 30 or 40 revolutions of the pattern wheel that must rotate 40 revolutions for the 12 course pattern wheel to produce a rack of 480 courses, 30 revolutions for the 16 course pattern wheel, and 20 revolutions for the 24 course pattern wheel to produce one rack. Another method that has been employed for measuring runner length is to mark a single yarn strand that is feeding from a yarn beam section to the needle bars. The yarn strand is marked by the mill operator using a felt tipped pin. The strand is marked at a reference point corresponding to the zero inch mark on a six or eight foot scale when the knitting machine pattern wheel index rotates past a reference point. The operator counts 20, 30 or 40 revolutions of the pattern wheel or 480 revolutions of the main drive shaft, and notes how many inches the yarn strand has traveled past the zero inch mark on the six or eight foot scale. This marking and measuring procedure must be done for each warp beam section on the two, three, four, five and six beam knitting machines.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a novel runner checker that can be mounted on conventional knitting machines to measure the length of yarn being fed from the warp beam section which will automatically mark yarns being fed from each beam section with which the runner checker units are associated, and detect the marks to determine therefrom and provide a readout indicating the courses per selected runner checker length and a readout of RPM.

The runner checker apparatus in general comprises an automatic or manual yarn marking means, a starting point yarn mark detector, a stopping point yarn mark detector for each warp beam section of the knitting machine, an aluminum disc that clamps to the knitting machine main drive shaft and a magnet secured to the disc to activate a reed switch once for each revolution of the main drive shaft, and an electronics section with digital counting, gating, readout, and power supply circuits. The readout means indicates the courses per preselected runner length.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES FIGS. 1A and 1B collectively form a block diagram of the runner checker of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the calibrated rail assembly, and which also illustrates the start and stop detectors for the yarn marks;

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of an automatic yarn marker which may be used with the present invention; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the shaft revolution monitor for indicating revolutions of the main shaft of the knitting machine.

I DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The runner checker unit of the present invention, in general, includes a solenoid activated yarn marker that automatically marks one yarn strand for each of the three bars of a three bar knitting machine, for example, when the start" push botton is pressed. A counter is provided to monitor the revolutions-per-minute (RPM) of the knitting machine beginning within 10 milliseconds (ms) after the yarn marker solenoid energized period is complete, and counts for seconds so that the correct RPM of the knitting machine will be indicated on an RPM counter. The marked yarn strands next pass a three section start" detector of the contact type. The start" contacts actuate three counters so that they will register every course (revolution of the knitting machine-rnain drive shaft) until the marked yarn sport passes a stop detector which is also of the contact type. The length of time required for the three course counters to complete the accumulation of courses for each runner length of all three bars varies with knitting machine speed. For example, assuming the knitting machine is operating at 960 RPM and the runner lengths are 48, 72 and 96 inches, there will be two racks (480 courses times 2) per minute or one rack in 30 seconds. Thus the 48, 72 and 96 inch runners will complete 480 courses in 30 seconds, if all three runner lengths are correct.

A wheel with a magnet secured in the tim is mounted on the main drive shaft of the knitting machine, and a reed switch and enclosure are mounted on a bracket adjacent to the rim of the magnet wheel, to cause a pulse to be generated each time the magnet rotates past the reed switch. These pulses feed to circuits that drive all three course counters and the RPM counter.

The runner checker also includes a rail that is 180 inches long with a scale that is 168 inches long attached to the front edge of the rail. An automatic yarn marker is mounted on the rail, as well as a set of start contacts mounted at the zero inch mark on the rail and three stop contacts adjusted to the correct runner length as indicated by three index pointers on the 168 inch scale. An electronic housing provides a front panel readout of courses per preset runner for each bar and knitting machine RPM, and houses the necessary digital logic gating circuits, the marker solenoid, the reset and counter driver circuits, and the necessary power supplies for the unit.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several figures, and particularly to the block diagram of the runner checker unit illustrated in FIGS. IA and 18, there is illustrated an arrangement of components for a three bar, flat bed, tricot knitting machine with the electronic circuit arranged to operate in a course mode. Forthe three bar knitting machine,

three start detectors indicated at A, 10B and 10C are set at the 0.0-inches position on the calibrated rail indicated at 11, and illustrated in FIG. 2, and each of the three runner length stop detectors 12A, 12B and 12C are set at the inches indications on the calibrated rail at the runner length the mill operator should be maintaining. Rail eyelet boards 13, having three eyelets each, are mounted on the calibrated rail 11 upstream or to the right of the start detectors 10A, 10B and 10C as viewed in FIG. 2, and a downstream eyelet board 14 is provided to the left of the array of stop detectors 12A, 12B and 12C. The three yarn strands are indicated by reference characters A, 15B and 15C. One yarn strand, from the extreme right beam of each of the three beam sections, is fed through the rail eyelets of the eyelet boards 13 and through the start and stop" detectors 10 and 12 so they will feed across the knitting machine width and knit-into the selvage on the left side.

The three start" detectors 10A, 10B and 10C are, in the preferred embodiment, mounted on a single detector board, and each comprise a pair of contact wires, one pair of which are indicated at 10w, 10w,

forming an X-shaped pattern by mounting the same at their upper and lower ends to the mounting board 15m. The lowers ends of the wires 10w, 10w connect to electrical terminals which are wired as later described. The stop" detectors 12A, 12B and 12C are similarly constructed of conductive bare wires 16w, 16w also arranged in an X-shaped pattern, but in the case of the stop detectors, each of the three detectors 12A, 12B

and 12C are mounted on a separate mounting board 16m which are adjustably positioned along the length of the calibrated rail 11.

A solenoid actuated yarn marker 17 is located at a desired position just upstream of the start detectors 10A, 10B and 10C and may be of the construction illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 3. As there shown, the yarn marker 17 includes a solenoid 18 having a coil mounted on the arm 19A of the mounting bracket 19, and having the usual movable plunger coupled by connecting plate 20 to guide rods 21 which slide in bronze bearings 193 in arm 19A and support the anvil 22. The anvil is preferably a plastic member, preferably of inverted U-shape when viewed in transverse section, made for example of TEFLON. A coil spring 23 about the portion of the solenoid plunger above the coil normally urges the connecting plate 20, guide rods 21 and anvil 22 to the raised position. A felt marker pad 24 is supported in a reservoir 25 below the anvil 22 and is mounted for height adjustment, as illustrated. The felt pad forms a wick which is wetted with an electrically conductive solution in the reservoir 25 by immersion in the solution that fills the reservoir. The yarn strands normally ride about vs inch above the felt marker pad 24.

This solenoid and spring arrangement provides a push-pull action on the guide rods 21 and anvil 22, providing a means of pressing the three yarn strands simultaneously onto the top surface of the wetted pad 24. The eyelets 13 on both sides of the marker reservoir area can be adjusted in or out as needed whenever any sign of wear in the form of grooves appears on the top edge of the felt pad 24. I

The drive shaft revolution monitor illustrated in FIG. 4 is provided to produce one pulse for each revolution of the main drive shaft of the knitting machine, and thus produce one pulse for each course or row of stitches. This shaft revolution monitor is indicated generally by the reference character 26 and comprises an aluminum wheel 27, for example a five inch diameter wheel, having a small magnet 27A secured in the rim section. The wheel 27 is clamped, as by a set screw or any conventional fastening means, to the main drive shaft 28 of the knitting machine. An adjustable bracket 29 ismounted on the knitting machine frame, and supports a reed switch 30. Each revolution of the main drive shaft 28 causes one revolution of the magnet wheel 27. Each time themagnet 27A passes the reed switch 30, a reed switch closure occurs. The switch closure produces a pulse that is translated as one course (row of stitches) per revolution of the magnet wheel. 480 pulses produced by a corresponding number of switch closures indicates 480 courses or one rack.

The circuitry as indicated in FIGS. 1A and 1B generally comprises preamplifiers, Al, A2 and A3 connected to a terminal of the start" detectors 10A, 10B and 10C, and pre-amplifiers A4, A5 and A6 connected to the corresponding terminals of the stop" detectors 12A, 12B and 12C. The outputs from the preamplifiers Al, A2 and A3 provide one input to flip-flops FFl, FFZ and FPS, and the preamplifiers A4, A5 and A6 form one input to OR gates 0R1, CR2 and CR3, which provide reset inputs to the flip-flops FFl, FF2 and F13. The Q output of each of these flip-flops connects to AND gates ANDI, ANDZ, and AND3, the other input of which connects to the reed switch 30. The outputs of these AND gates and of AND gate AND4 connect to one shot multivibrators SS1, SS2, SS3 and SS4, the Q output of which connects to counter driver amplifiers A7, A8, A9 and A which drive the counters CB1, CB2, and CB3 and the RPM counter C-RPM. Timing circuits TD1 and TD2 and reset circuitry are also provided as indicated.

In the operation of the circuit, when the start" push bottom SW-l is depressed, the solenoid operated yarn marker 17 will be activated, as later described, to mark all three yarn strands A, 15B and 15C simulta neously for a 100 millisecond period. Depressing the start push bottom SW-l also resets all three course counters CB-l, CB-2 and CB-3 and the RPM counter C-RPM and feeds a pulse to the OR gates 0R1, 0R2 and CR3 that drive the reset terminal high on flip-flops FFl, FF2 and FF3 to reset them. Whenever the marked yarn travels past the start detector for that yarn, a pulse is generated which initiates the count in the associated course counter. For example, referring to the yarn 15A for the number one bar, when the conductive mark on the yarn strand 15A bridges the space between the two wires at the crossing point of the start detector 10A, thepreamplifier A1 is caused to produce an output pulse which is applied to the set terminal of flipflop FFl to cause the output Q to go high (for example to +5 volts DC). This places the A input on AND gate ANDl high, and each time the reed switch 30 is closed by passage of the magnet adjacent the reed switch, the B input of gate ANDl will go high and cause the AND gate 1 output to go high. When the output of AND gate ANDl goes high once for each reed switch closure, the output pulse feeds to one shot multivibrator SS1 where the output pulse is stretched to milliseconds. This stretched pulse feeds to the counter driver amplifier A7 which drives the associated counter CB-l. Each of the other counters CB-2 and CB-3 areoperated in a similar manner responsive to the conductive mark on the strands 15B and 15C bridging the slight space between the gaps of the wires forming the start detectors 10B and 10C. The associated counter circuit will continue to count pulses generated by the reed switch until the marked yarn strand, for example for the strand 10A, reaches the associated stop" detector 12A. When the mark on the strand reaches the stop detector, for example 12A, the preamplifier A4 feeds a pulse to theOR gate 0R1, which resets the flip-flop FFl. When the flip-flop FFl goes to the reset condition, the Q output of this flip-flop goes low and this makes the A input of AND gate ANDI go low, thereby inhibiting the reed switch from feeding pulses to the driver circuit and course counter. The action described for the yarn strand feeding from the number 1 bar is duplicated for the number 2 and number 3 bars of the knitting machine. While the yarn strand marker automatically marks all of the three yarn strands simultaneously, the fastest yarn strand will reach the start" detector slightly before the two slower yarn strands, and for this reason, the "stop contacts will seldom actuate simultaneously.

If the runner length is correct, the course counter CB-l, (DB-2 and CB-3 for each of the strands will indicate the number 480. Of course if the runner is too long, the course counter will indicate a number less than 480, and if the runner is too short, the course counter will indicate a number greater than 480.

Whenever the start" push botton SW-l is depressed, the reset single shot multivibrator SS5 will feed a pulse for milliseconds from its Q output to the counter reset and marker solenoid driver transistor amplifiers All and A12. This energizes the counter reset and the marker solenoid for a 100 millisecond period. The 6 output of the multivibrator SS5 will momentarily go low and recover after 100 milliseconds to go high again. The output pulse from the 6 terminal of multivibrator SS5 is diiTerentiated by the RC network RC-l between this terminal and the set input of flipflop FF4. The plus-going pulse feeding to the set input of flip-flop FF4 causes the Q output terminal of FF4 to go high, whereupon the 6 terminal of flip-flop FF4 will 7 go low and the transistor Q1 will stop conducting. This causes the 60 second RPM timing circuit TD1 to start timing. The output pulse from the flip-flop FF4 is also fed to the RC time delay network TD2, which provides a ten millisecond time delay, and is applied to the A input of the AND gate AND4. This provides a 10 millisecond delay after resetting the RPM counter C-RPM before permitting the reed switch pulse to feed through AND gate AND4 and start the RPM counter operation. The A input of AND gate AND4 will remain high until after timing circuit TD1-has timed out for 60 seconds and the Q output of TD1 will go high. The high output on the Q terminal of TD1 is fed to the reset terminal of flip-flop FF4. When FF4 is reset, its 6 output will go high again and drive transistor Q1 into conduction, which starts discharging of the timing condenser of timing circuit TD1 to place TD1 in readiness for the next RPM timing cycle.

The purpose of the timing circuit TD1 is to provide a relatively precise timing period of 60 seconds to hold the A input of AND gate AND4 high so that the pulses generated by the magnet passing the reed switch once for each revolution of the knitting machine main drive shaft will take the B input of AND gate AND4 high. Each time the output of gate AND4 goes high, a pulse feeds to the one shot multivibrator SS4 and a 25 millisecond wide pulse will feed to counter driver amplifier A10 and actuate the RPM counter C-RPM so it will increase one count with each pulse.

A lockout feature is also incorporated in the system to prevent false counts from entering the counters when operating personnel may accidentally touch the start detector contacts 10A, 10B or 10C or when excessive vibration may cause the conductive solution to splatter out of the yarn marker reservoir and onto the yarn. This lockout feature that prevents false counts from accumulating in the counters any time afier the channel for bar number 1 or yarn number 1 has stopped counting operates as follows. Whenever the conductive yarn mark on yarn strands 15A passes the stop detector 12A, the output of OR gate 0R1 will be driven high. When gate 0R1 output goes high, the reset terminal of flip-flop FFl will go high and the C terminal of flip-flop FF1 will go high. This causes the set input of flip-flop FFS to go high and drive its 6 terminal low. When terminal 6 of flip-flop FFS goes low, transistor 02 will be driven into non-conduction, thus driving transistor 03 into non-conduction. When transistor Q3 is nonconducting, the voltage (which is approximately +28 volts DC) will be removed from the start detectors 10A, 10B and 10C for the three bars 1, 2 and 3. This voltage removal will keep the start" detectors 10A, 10B and 10C from operating again until the start push button SW-l is depressed. When the start push button SW-l is depressed, a pulse is fed to the reset tei'minal of flip-flop FPS, and the 6 terminal of flip-flop FFS will go high. When the 6 terminal of flip-flop FFS goes high, transistor Q2 will be driven into conduction, thus driving transistor Q3 into conduction, and the approximately 28 volt DC supply will be fed to the wires of the start detectors A, 10B and 10C for the three bars 1, 2 and 3.

In one preferred example, the start" and stop detectors 10A, 10B and 10C and 12A, 12B and 12C, are each made of three X-shaped detector contacts formed by two carbide steel rods, about 1/16 inch in diameter, mounted on a plastic block. These two rods form electrical contacts spaced about 0.003 inches apart, so that the yarn strand saturated with conductive solution at the point where the strand is marked, will produce a resistance of about 250,000 to 750,000 ohms. The plastic block on which the X-shaped contacts are mounted are provided with slots defining throats located in the region of the crossing point of the X-shaped pairs of contacts so that the yarn can be conveniently led through the throat into contact with the crossing points of the rods or wires.

It will be recognized that instead of using the electrically conductive markings with contact wires, other marking and detecting methods can be used. For example, the yarn may be marked by a carbon typewriter ribbon or other means to provide a visible marking or a fluorescent marking, and photoelectric detection can be resorted to for the start detectors and the stop detectors. Alternatively, the yarn can be marked with an iron oxide solution, after which the marked portion of the yarn may be passed through a magnetic field and then to a magnetic tape head or an oscillator coil looped around the yarn to detect change in the magnetic field conditions as the magnetized marking passes by the selected points for the start and stop detectors.

What is claimed is:

1. Runner checker apparatus for use with a knitting machine having a plurality of warp beam sections and a main drive shaft; the apparatus comprising monitor means for producing course counting pulses at a selected pulse rate per revolution of the main drive shaft, means for marking yarns being fed from each beam section with a detectable mark, start detector means and stop detector means for each yarn for detecting when said mark on its associated yarn passes preselected start and stop measuring stations, counter display means including digit readout devices for indicating the number of courses per preselected runner length, gating means for applying said course counting pulses to said counter display means to cause the latter to indicate the number of courses responsive to the course counting pulses while said gating means is in a first state, and means for conditioning said gating means to said first state responsive to detection of said mark by said start detector means and for terminting said first state upon detection of said mark by said stop detector means.

2. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a manual start switch, and means responsive to closing of said start switch to automatically activate the marking means to impress a mark on the yarns feeding from each beam section at a preselected marking position in advance of said start measuring station.

3. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a manual start switch, an elongated calibrated rail along which the yarns from each beam section are guided, and means responsive to closing of said start switch to automatically activate the marking means to impress a mark on the yarns feeding from each beam section at a preselected marking position in advance of said start measuring station along the calibrated rail.

4. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said mark is formed by an electrically conductive liquid marking solution.

5. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said mark is formed by an electrically conductive liquid marking solution.

6. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein an elongated calibrated rail extends across transverse width of the knitting machine, the yarn strands to be monitored extending from the beam sections to said rail adjacent one end thereof and along the length of the rail to the opposite end portion and thence to a knitting zone to be knitted into the selvage of the fabric, and mounting means supporting said start and stop detector means on said rail for longitudinal adjustment thereon.

7. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein an elongated calibrated rail extends across transverse width of the knitting machine, the yarn strands to be monitored extending from the beam sections to said rail adjacent one end thereof and along the length of the rail to the opposite end portion and thence to a knitting zone to be knitted into the selvage of the fabric, and mounting means supporting said start and stop detector means on said rail for longitudinal adjustment thereon.

8. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said start and stop detector means each comprise a panel of insulating material having a pair of electrically conductive wires supported thereon in an X-shaped pattern spaced slightly fromeach other in spaced parallel vertical planes to be conductively bridged by said mark at the crossing point of the X- shaped pattern defined by the wires.

9. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said start and stop detector means each comprise a panel of insulating material supported for longitudinal adjustment along said rail having a pair of electrically conductive wires supported'thereon in an X- shaped pattern spaced slightly from each other in spaced parallel vertical planes to be conductively bridged by said mark at the crossing point of the X shaped pattern defined by the wires.

10. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said start and stop detector means each comprise a panel of insulating material having a pair of electrically conductive wires supported thereon in an X-shaped pattern spaced slightly from each other in spaced parallel vertical planes to be conductively trically conductive wires supported thereon in an X- shaped pattern spaced slightly from each other in spaced parallel vertical planes to be conductively bridged by said mark at the crossing point of the X- shaped pattern defined by the wires, and said panel having an upwardly opening slot therein extending downwardly from its upper edge to said crossing point to permit positioning of the associated yarn strand in contact with the upwardly opening V formed by said wires.

12. Runner checker means as defined in claim 8, wherein said stop detector means comprises a number of independently adjustable stop detector units corresponding to the number of beam sections each comprising one of said panels and a pair of said wires thereon adjustably positioned along a predetermined yarn measuring path, and said start detector means comprising a single panel having a number of pairs of periphery of said rotatable disc to be closed once each revolution of the latter and produce one course counting pulse per revolution.

18. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said gating means and said means for conditioning the gating means includes flip-flop stages set by detection of said mark by said start detector means for the respective yarn, OR gates activated by the respective stop detector means upon detection of said mark on the associated yarn, AND gates connected to said fiip-flop stages and to said monitor means, connected single shot multivibrators connected to the respective AND gates to produce an output pulse for each course said wires thereon equal to the number of beam sections.

13. Runner checker means as defined in claim 9, wherein said stop detector means comprises a number of independently adjustable stop detector units corresponding to the number of beam sections each comprising one of said panels and a pair of said wires thereon adjustably positioned along said rail, and said start detector means comprising a single panel having a number of pairs of said wires thereon equal to the number of beam sections.

l4. Runner checker means as defined in claim 10, wherein said stop detector means comprises-a number of independently adjustable stop detector units corresponding to the number of beam sections each comprising one of said panels and a pair of said wires thereon adjustably positioned along a predetermined yarn measuring path, and said start detector means comprising a single panel having a number of pairs of said wires thereon equal to the number of beam sections.

15. Runner checker means as defined in claim 1, wherein said monitor means includes a rotatable disc coupled to the main drive shaft of the knitting machine for rotation therewith and having a magnet thereon and further includes a reed switch positioned adjacent the periphery of said rotatable disc to be closed once each revolutionof the latter and produce one course counting pulse per revolution.

16. Runner checker means as defined in claim 2, wherein said monitor means includes a rotatable disc coupled to the main drive shaft of the knitting machine for rotation therewith and having a magnet thereon and further includes areed switch positioned adjacent the periphery of said rotatable disc to be closed once each revolution of the latter and produce one course counting pulse per revolution.

17. Runner checker means as defined in claim 6, wherein said monitor means includes a rotatable disc coupled to the main drive shaft of the knitting machine for rotation therewith and having a magnet thereon and further includes a reed switch positioned adjacent the counting pulse while the associated flip-flop stage is in set condition, and means for applying said output pulses to said counters display means to separately display the course count for each beam section.

19. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said gating means and said means for conditioning the gating means includes flip-flop stages set by detection of said mark by said start detector means for the respective yarn, OR gates activated by the respective stop detector means upon detection of said mark on the associated yarn, AND gates connected to said flip-flop stages and to said monitor means, single shot multivibrators connected to the respective AND gates to produce an output pulse for each course counting pulse while the associated flip-flop stage is in set condition, and means for applying said output pulses to said counters display means to separately display the course count for each beam section.

20. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said gating means and said means for conditioning the gating means includes flip-flop stages set by detection of said mark by said start detector means for the respective yarn, OR gates activated by the respective stop detector means upon detection of said mark .on the associated yarn, AND gates connected to said flip-flop stages and to said monitor means, single shot multivibrators connected to the respective AND gates to produce an .output pulse for each course counting pulse while the associated flip-flop stage is in set condition, and means for applying said output pulses to said counters display means to separately display the course count for each beam section.

21. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said gating means and said means for conditioning the gating means includes flip-flop stages set by detection of said mark by said start detector means for the respective yarn, OR gates activated by the respective stop detector means upon detection of said mark on the associated yarn, AND gates connected to said flip-flop stages and to said monitor means, single shot multivibrators connected to the respective AND gates to produce an output pulse for each course counting pulse while the associated flip-flop stage is in set condition, and means for applying said output pulses to said counters display means to separately display the course count for each beam section.

# t i i t 

1. Runner checker apparatus for use with a knitting machine having a plurality of warp beam sections and a main drive shaft; the apparatus comprising monitor means for producing course counting pulses at a selected pulse rate per revolution of the main drive shaft, means for marking yarns being fed from each beam section with a detectable mark, start detector means and stop detector means for each yarn for detecting when said mark on its associated yarn passes preselected start and stop measuring stations, counter display means including digit readout devices for indicating the number of courses per preselected runner length, gating means for applying said course counting pulses to said counter display means to cause the latter to indicate the number of courses responsive to the course counting pulses while said gating means is in a first state, and means for conditioning said gating means to said first state responsive to detection of said mark by said start detector means and for terminting said first state upon detection of said mark by said stop detector means.
 2. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a manual start switch, and means responsive to closing of said start switch to automatically activate the marking means to impress a mark on the yarns feeding from each beam section at a preselected marking position in advance of said start measuring station.
 3. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 1, including a manual start switch, an elongated calibrated rail along which the yarns from each beam section are guided, and means responsive to closing of said start switch to automatically activate the marking means to impress a mark on the yarns feeding from each beam section at a preselected marking position in advance of said start measuring station along the calibrated rail.
 4. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said mark is formed by an electrically conductive liquid marking solution.
 5. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein said mark is formed by an electrically conductive liquid marking solution.
 6. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein an elongated calibrated rail extends across transverse width of the knitting machine, the yarn strands to be monitored extending from the beam sections to said rail adjacent one end thereof and along the length of the rail to the opposite end portion and thence to a knitting zone to be knitted into the selvage of the fabric, and mounting means supporting said start and stop detector means on said rail for longitudinal adjustment thereon.
 7. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein an elongated calibrated rail extends across transverse width of the knitting machine, the yarn strands to bE monitored extending from the beam sections to said rail adjacent one end thereof and along the length of the rail to the opposite end portion and thence to a knitting zone to be knitted into the selvage of the fabric, and mounting means supporting said start and stop detector means on said rail for longitudinal adjustment thereon.
 8. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said start and stop detector means each comprise a panel of insulating material having a pair of electrically conductive wires supported thereon in an X-shaped pattern spaced slightly from each other in spaced parallel vertical planes to be conductively bridged by said mark at the crossing point of the X-shaped pattern defined by the wires.
 9. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said start and stop detector means each comprise a panel of insulating material supported for longitudinal adjustment along said rail having a pair of electrically conductive wires supported thereon in an X-shaped pattern spaced slightly from each other in spaced parallel vertical planes to be conductively bridged by said mark at the crossing point of the X-shaped pattern defined by the wires.
 10. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said start and stop detector means each comprise a panel of insulating material having a pair of electrically conductive wires supported thereon in an X-shaped pattern spaced slightly from each other in spaced parallel vertical planes to be conductively bridged by said mark at the crossing point of the X-shaped pattern defined by the wires, and said panel having an upwardly opening slot therein extending downwardly from its upper edge to said crossing point to permit positioning of the associated yarn strand in contact with the upwardly opening V formed by said wires.
 11. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said start and stop detector means each comprise a panel of insulating material supported for longitudinal adjustment along said rail having a pair of electrically conductive wires supported thereon in an X-shaped pattern spaced slightly from each other in spaced parallel vertical planes to be conductively bridged by said mark at the crossing point of the X-shaped pattern defined by the wires, and said panel having an upwardly opening slot therein extending downwardly from its upper edge to said crossing point to permit positioning of the associated yarn strand in contact with the upwardly opening V formed by said wires.
 12. Runner checker means as defined in claim 8, wherein said stop detector means comprises a number of independently adjustable stop detector units corresponding to the number of beam sections each comprising one of said panels and a pair of said wires thereon adjustably positioned along a predetermined yarn measuring path, and said start detector means comprising a single panel having a number of pairs of said wires thereon equal to the number of beam sections.
 13. Runner checker means as defined in claim 9, wherein said stop detector means comprises a number of independently adjustable stop detector units corresponding to the number of beam sections each comprising one of said panels and a pair of said wires thereon adjustably positioned along said rail, and said start detector means comprising a single panel having a number of pairs of said wires thereon equal to the number of beam sections.
 14. Runner checker means as defined in claim 10, wherein said stop detector means comprises a number of independently adjustable stop detector units corresponding to the number of beam sections each comprising one of said panels and a pair of said wires thereon adjustably positioned along a predetermined yarn measuring path, and said start detector means comprising a single panel having a number of pairs of said wires thereon equal to the number of beam sections.
 15. Runner checker means as defined in claim 1, wherein said monitor means includes a rotatable disc coupled to The main drive shaft of the knitting machine for rotation therewith and having a magnet thereon and further includes a reed switch positioned adjacent the periphery of said rotatable disc to be closed once each revolution of the latter and produce one course counting pulse per revolution.
 16. Runner checker means as defined in claim 2, wherein said monitor means includes a rotatable disc coupled to the main drive shaft of the knitting machine for rotation therewith and having a magnet thereon and further includes a reed switch positioned adjacent the periphery of said rotatable disc to be closed once each revolution of the latter and produce one course counting pulse per revolution.
 17. Runner checker means as defined in claim 6, wherein said monitor means includes a rotatable disc coupled to the main drive shaft of the knitting machine for rotation therewith and having a magnet thereon and further includes a reed switch positioned adjacent the periphery of said rotatable disc to be closed once each revolution of the latter and produce one course counting pulse per revolution.
 18. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said gating means and said means for conditioning the gating means includes flip-flop stages set by detection of said mark by said start detector means for the respective yarn, OR gates activated by the respective stop detector means upon detection of said mark on the associated yarn, AND gates connected to said flip-flop stages and to said monitor means, connected single shot multivibrators connected to the respective AND gates to produce an output pulse for each course counting pulse while the associated flip-flop stage is in set condition, and means for applying said output pulses to said counters display means to separately display the course count for each beam section.
 19. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said gating means and said means for conditioning the gating means includes flip-flop stages set by detection of said mark by said start detector means for the respective yarn, OR gates activated by the respective stop detector means upon detection of said mark on the associated yarn, AND gates connected to said flip-flop stages and to said monitor means, single shot multivibrators connected to the respective AND gates to produce an output pulse for each course counting pulse while the associated flip-flop stage is in set condition, and means for applying said output pulses to said counters display means to separately display the course count for each beam section.
 20. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said gating means and said means for conditioning the gating means includes flip-flop stages set by detection of said mark by said start detector means for the respective yarn, OR gates activated by the respective stop detector means upon detection of said mark on the associated yarn, AND gates connected to said flip-flop stages and to said monitor means, single shot multivibrators connected to the respective AND gates to produce an output pulse for each course counting pulse while the associated flip-flop stage is in set condition, and means for applying said output pulses to said counters display means to separately display the course count for each beam section.
 21. Runner checker apparatus as defined in claim 9, wherein said gating means and said means for conditioning the gating means includes flip-flop stages set by detection of said mark by said start detector means for the respective yarn, OR gates activated by the respective stop detector means upon detection of said mark on the associated yarn, AND gates connected to said flip-flop stages and to said monitor means, single shot multivibrators connected to the respective AND gates to produce an output pulse for each course counting pulse while the associated flip-flop stage is in set condition, and means for applying said output pulses to said counters display means to separately display the course couNt for each beam section. 